Following the TDSAT judgement allowing 3G intra-circle roaming agreements last week, telecom operators Airtel, Idea Cellular and Vodafone India have resumed offering 3G services in circles where they do not have spectrum. Remember that Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular had inked a Intra-circle 3G roaming agreement way back in 2011, which allowed Vodafone to launch 3G services in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Aircel and Tata Docomo had also inked a similar agreement, although it was scrapped after the Government deemed them illegal. Where has 3G services resumed Airtel has resumed 3G services in eight circles - Haryana, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kolkata and UP (East) from yesterday. The service is currently available for prepaid customers in these circles through various 3G roaming packs. It is expected to be rolled out shortly for postpaid customers shortly. Airtel had earlier won 3G spectrum in 13 circles. Idea Cellular has resumed 3G services in 10 circles - Delhi, Mumbai, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kolkata & West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Assam and North East, which apparently accounts for 25% of its 137 million connection base. The service will be available for both prepaid and postpaid Idea customers. The 3G roaming packs are priced in the range of Rs 7 to Rs 1499, however this might differ from circle to circle. Idea Cellular has 3G spectrum in 12 circles, including Delhi where the telco had acquired 5 MHz of spectrum in the February 2014 spectrum auctions. It has however rolled out 3G services in 10 circles with plans to roll it out to Punjab and Delhi this financial year.…
